MANILA - Philippine fishing authorities said on Tuesday they had detained 25 Chinese crew of two seized fishing boats on suspicion of poaching, a move that could further strain ties between two countries at odds over maritime sovereignty.

A joint team from the Philippine coastguard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) captured the Chinese vessels on Monday sailing without permits between waters off Babuyan Island and Batanes province in the northern Philippines.

The Chinese vessels were in waters that are not part of the disputed South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have conflicting claims.

Tension between the Philippines and China has risen as an international tribunal in the Hague prepares to deliver a ruling in the next few months in a case lodged by Manila in 2013.

The Philippines is seeking a clarification of United Nations maritime laws that could undermine China's claims to 90 percent of the South China Sea. China has rejected the court's authority.

The fishing boats were flying an inverted Philippine flag when apprehended on Monday, BFAR said in a statement.

MANILA - Philippine fishing authorities said on Tuesday they had detained 25 Chinese crew of two seized fishing boats on suspicion of poaching, a move that could further strain ties between two countries at odds over maritime sovereignty.

A joint team from the Philippine coastguard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) captured the Chinese vessels on Monday sailing without permits between waters off Babuyan Island and Batanes province in the northern Philippines.

The Chinese vessels were in waters that are not part of the disputed South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have conflicting claims.

Tension between the Philippines and China has risen as an international tribunal in the Hague prepares to deliver a ruling in the next few months in a case lodged by Manila in 2013.

The Philippines is seeking a clarification of United Nations maritime laws that could undermine China's claims to 90 percent of the South China Sea. China has rejected the court's authority.

The fishing boats were flying an inverted Philippine flag when apprehended on Monday, BFAR said in a statement.

It seems that China really doesn't respect other countries' territory and even send their fishermen inside other countries' sea territory.

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These fishermen are being dubbed "Little Blue Men", just as Russia's forces that were used in the take over of Crimea were called "Little Green Men".

“China is trying to use these government-controlled fishermen below the radar to get the bonus without the onus to support its South China Sea claims,” Andrew Erickson, an associate professor at the US Naval War College, told Defense News, a US-based publication.

“It’s a phenomenon little known or understood in the US. While Russia’s little green men in Crimea are widely known, insufficient attention has been paid to China’s little blue men in the South China Sea,” Erickson said.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) arrested 10 Chinese nationals on board a ship in waters off Camiguin Island in Mindanao, following a chase Wednesday night, May 25.

The monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) vessels of the PCG went after the Chinese vessel, which allegedly hit the rear of MCS 3010 and tried to escape.

MCS 3010 then sought assistance from MCS 3007 at around 8 pm.

"At first, we thought it was a local vessel because it was marked with Subic and was flying a Philippine flag, but it was found to be manned by Chinese crew," said Captain Allen Toribio, commanding officer of MCS 3007. "They pretended that they were aboard a locally registered vessel to avoid suspicion."

The two Philippine vessels were able to corner the Chinese ship, where PCG personnel found endangered black corals.

The PCG will sue the arrested Chinese nationals for poaching.

Lieutenant Jeffrey Collado, who was on board MCS 3010, also said there were two other Chinese ships in the area, but they managed to escape. – Rappler.com